Boat-propeller.



Patented Oct. 3|, I899.

No. 635,95l.

A. N. ANDERSON. BOAT PROPELLEB.

(Application filed July 5, 1899.)

No Model.)

811/00 toz 239i Wows m: NORRKS PETERS co. Pumouwo. wAsmNGTDN u c.

Nrrnn STATES PATENT Fries.

ANTHONY N. ANDERSON, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

BOAT-PROPELLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,951, d ted O tober 31, 1899.

Application filed J ly 5, 1899. fierial No. 722,826. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, ANTHONY N. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Duval and State of Florida, hat e invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boat-Propellers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in boat-propellers, and more particularly to that class of the oar type which are manually operated; and the object is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and effective device of this character.

To this end the invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the several elements of the device, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings the same reference characters indicate the same parts of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved propeller as it appears in position on the gunwale of a row-boat. Fig. 2 is another view of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the propeller-frame. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through one of the sockets. I Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the rock-shaft. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view to show the blade 14 at a right angle to the loop 10.

1 denotes a bracket or oar-lock attached to the rail of the boat, and it is formed with the parallel sockets 2 3, both of which are provided with a slot 4 to receive the rectangular shaft 5, the upper end of which carries an adjustable collar 6, which has abearing in the annular recess 7, formed in the top face of the socket 2, and which forms a bearing for the shaft and also supports it in position. By referring to Fig. 4 it will be seen that this rectangular shaft in cross-section is longer than it is wide, so that its narrow part may be passed through the slot 4 and then turned at a right angle to present its wider portion to the slot, thus looking it in place and preventing its accidental displacement, though in no manner interfering with its oscillation on its axis when in active use in propelling the boat. The upper end of the shaft is square, as shown, to receive the oar-handle 8, by means of which the propeller is manipulated. To the lower end of the shaft 5 is fixedsan arm 9, which terminates in an open loop 10, and a brace 12 extends from this loop to the shaft, as shown.

13 denotes a fin or blade loosely hinged or pivoted at its upper edge to the top rail of the loop, and when this blade is hanging down, as shown in Fig. 1, its lower edge projects over the edge of the bottom rail of the loop, and as the arm 9 is moved backward this blade catches the water and propels the boat for= ward, and on the return stroke, as shown in Fig. 2, this blade assumes a horizontal posi tion, and thus ofiers no resistance to its passage through the water.

14 denotes a vertical blade pivoted on the studs 14 14 in the loop, and its outer end carries a spring-trigger 15, which is formed with a retaining-notch 16, and its outer end after passing through a guide-orifice 17 in the outer end of the loop 10 terminates in a shoulder 18 to prevent the end of the trigger being drawn through the orifice in the loop, and it also serves to limit the movement of said blade in one direction and hold it at a right angle to the loop, as shown in Fig. 4. It will be noticed that the blade 14 is pivoted near its outer end ,so that about two-thirds or three quarters of its exposed surface extends inward,while the remaining portionextends outward.

The oar-handle is drawn forward and backward, as in ordinary rowing, with the exception that there is no vertical motion, and as the handle is drawn forward the loop and blade 10 are carried aft. The blade extending vertically across the loop forms the resistance which forces the boat forward on the return stroke. The force of the water on the free end of the blade 14 presses it backward, so that the edge of the blade is presented to the water, and at the same time the blade 14 assumes a horizontal position and there is practically no resistance offered by the waterduring the return stroke. When it is necessary to check the. speed of the boat, the handles are released, and the momentum of the boat carries the looped arms aft along, so that the blades 14 extend at right angles to the path of the boat, and thus olfer a resistance which checks the boats speed.

It will be noted that the bearing-collar 6 has a threaded engagement with the shaft, to which it is adj ustably secured by the jam-nut 6, and thus provision is made by which the depth of the blades in the water can be regulated to conform to the draft of the boat.

The accompanying drawings show my invention in the best form now known to me; but many changes in the details might be made within the skill of a good mechanic without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the claims at the end of this specification.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a propelling mechanism for boats, the combination of the bracket, the vertical shaft mounted therein, the handle mounted on the upper end of said shaft, and the alined arm mounted on its lower end and terminating in an open loop, and a blade hinged to the upper rail of said loop, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a propelling mechanism for boats, the combination of the bracket formed with the parallel sockets, the vertical shaft journaled in said sockets, and the collar 6 adjustably mounted on said shaft and having a bearing in one of said sockets, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a propelling mechanism for boats, the combination of the bracket, the shaft journaled therein and means for oscillating said shaft, the lateral arm fixed to said shaft, and terminating in an open loop, the blade 14 pivoted in said loop, and means for limiting the play of said blade in both directions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof -I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANTHONY N. ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

JOHN F. BOWMAN, H. W. STAFFORD. 

